Health Informatics Officer at Health Systems Consult Limited (HSCL)

Project Background

• In collaboration with the Government of Nigeria (GoN), PEPFAR/USAID investments have led to the achievement of significant progress in the fight against the HIV epidemic in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
• However, the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) showed that epidemic control targets are yet to be achieved.
• Further, this progress is threatened by development challenges: limited financial resources, insufficient use of data for decision making, weak coordination mechanism across all levels of government and insecurity.
• The Accelerating Control of HIV Epidemic (ACE) project provides USAID with the opportunity to support the GoN, civil society groups, and private sector actors in the cluster 3 focus states to close gaps in reaching control targets, address critical challenges in implementing their HIV response and accelerate progress towards sustainable epidemic control.

Job Summary

• The Health Informatics Officer will be a highly skilled full-stack software developer with experience in building web applications using Java/PHP who will be responsible for analyzing program requirements and business objectives, determining application features, functionalities, recommending and implementing changes to existing Java/PHP-based applications, among other duties.

Key Responsibilities

• The position holder will be engaged to ensure the optimization and full functionality of all supported databases (LAMISplus inclusive) across all ACE3 supported facilities while also coordinating all Health Informatics related activities in the State.
• S/He will provide technical assistance for the design and content development for electronic information systems (LAMIS, DHIS, GIS and any other ACE3 package) used for M&E operations.
• This function will include assisting the software programming team in developing actual logic statements for the coding of M&E indicators and software business rules where necessary and checking that all software development is done according to already established standards and procedures.
• Assist the software programming team in developing actual logic statements for the coding of M&E indicators and software business rules where necessary and checking that all software development is done according to already established standards and procedures. 

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or other relevant field with 2 - 4 years’ experience in software development, DHIS 2 configuration. Deployment skills will be an added advantage.
• MBBS / MPH / MSc or similar Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, General Statistics or Biostatistics, Health Informatics and/or Management or M&E with 1 to 2 years relevant experience in project-level or state/national-level monitoring and evaluation system implementation.
• Familiarity with Nigerian public sector health systems and NGOs and CBOs is highly desirable.

Desired competencies:

• Knowledge of health data systems: The HI Officer should know how to analyse, design, evaluate, test, and maintain health data systems. S/he needs to learn and help optimize new systems as technology evolves.
• Programming knowledge: The HI Officer must have programming knowledge in various computer languages. For example, Java, Python, C, SQL, and other languages are useful for creating and managing databases.
• Data analytics skills: The HI Officer will lead the creation of global and regional dashboards and overall data visualization efforts with a DHIS2 consultant. The HI Officer will be responsible for developing and maintaining regular efforts of creating charts, graphs, and presentations to inform managers and practitioners of data-driven results and trends.  The HI Officer with some data analytics skills in Excel or Power BI, critical in visualizing data.
• Independent problem-solving: The HI Officer will collaborate with technical/programmatic staff and deal with big data at the state level. The HI Officer must possess problem-solving skills, tackling unexpected challenges, from data security to maintaining systems and supporting regional and local staff.
• Proven experience in stakeholder management including the ability to engage in technical and policy discussions with representatives of government and other development partners.
• In-depth knowledge of the Nigerian healthcare system and key health system actors.
• Demonstrable strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and one or more of the following statistical software: SPSS, Stata, SAS and/or R.
• Excellent time management skills and outstanding work ethic.
• Excellent organization and interpersonal skills.
• Consistently approach work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Demonstrate openness to change and an ability to manage complexities in a fast-paced environment.